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More than a dozen utilities said they constantly, sometimes on a daily basis, face attempted cyberattacks. One utility said it was the target of about 10,000 cyberattacks each month, according to the report.

But the report shows that many utilities comply only with the standards set forth by the industry-run North American Electric Reliability Corp., which is charged with ensuring grid reliability.

“Almost all utilities cited compliance with mandatory NERC standards. Of those that responded to a question of how many voluntary cyber-security measures recommended by NERC had been implemented, most indicated that they had not implemented any of these measures,” the report says.

In addition, the report says most utilities “have not taken concrete steps to reduce the vulnerability of the grid to geomagnetic storms.”

Markey (D-Mass.) and Waxman (D-Calif.) called on Congress to pass legislation to authorize the federal government to require actions to protect the grid.

“National security experts say that cyber attacks on America’s electric grid top the target list for terrorists and rogue states, yet we remain highly vulnerable to attacks,” Markey said in a statement. “We need to push electric utilities to enlist all of the measures they can now, and push for stronger standards in Congress that will keep our economy and our country safe from cyber warfare.”

Markey and House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-Mich.) sponsored the GRID Act in 2010, which would give FERC the authority to “require necessary actions to protect the grid,” according to the report. While the bill passed the House, it was not taken up by the Senate.

The report stemmed from Waxman and Markey’s January information request to 150 utilities and other stakeholders. Sixty percent of those polled had responded as of early May, and the lawmakers based the report on the information they provided.